GUWAHATI — In a significant legal development, the Gauhati High Court on Friday dismissed the anticipatory bail application of senior Congress leader Pawan Khera. The case pertains to an FIR lodged by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, over allegations regarding foreign assets and multiple passports.
Khera, the Chairman of Media and Publicity for the All India Congress Committee (AICC), had approached the High Court after his legal attempts in other jurisdictions were redirected to the Assam-based court.
Core Allegations and Legal Timeline
The controversy stems from press conferences held by Khera on April 5 in New Delhi and Guwahati. During these sessions, he alleged that the Chief Minister’s wife possessed passports from the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda, alongside undisclosed properties in Dubai.
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April 5: Allegations made by Khera during press briefings.
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Post-April 5: Criminal case filed at Guwahati Crime Branch under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of defamation, forgery, and cheating.
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April 7: Assam Police attempted to locate Khera at his Delhi residence.
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April 15: The Supreme Court stayed a transit bail previously granted by the Telangana High Court.
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April 24: Gauhati High Court officially denies the anticipatory bail plea.
Arguments in Court
In his petition, Khera argued that the charges were “motivated” and a result of “political vendetta.” He further contended that the police were acting with “arbitrary and coercive conduct,” violating his fundamental rights. He cited a previous observation by the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Kamrup (M), who had noted that grounds for non-bailable warrants appeared to be based on “conjectures.”
The Legal Charges
The FIR against Khera includes several stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita:
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Section 356: Defamation.
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Section 318: Cheating.
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Sections 337 & 338: Forgery of public registers or valuable securities.
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Section 352: Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace.
| Legal Landmark | Status |
| Bail Status | Rejected by Gauhati High Court |
| Primary Complainant | Riniki Bhuyan Sharma |
| Jurisdiction | Guwahati Crime Branch |
| Supreme Court Involvement | Directed the petitioner to approach the High Court |
With the rejection of this plea, the legal pressure on the Congress spokesperson intensifies as the Assam Police continue their investigation into the claims of forgery and false statements.
